Drying apparatus



Nov. 24, 1925. 1,562,762 G. D. HARRIS DRYING APPARATUS Filed March 31, 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ,y' I ///1 ///l I Ill/Ill ////l G D HARRIS DRYING APPARATUS Filed March 31, 1921 2 Sheets-Shea). 2

Nov. 24, 1925- rave/7707".

Patented Nov, 24, 1925.

a 1,562,762:- UNITED STATES \.'r 1zNT OFFICE.

GCBDON DON HARRIS, OF ISLIP, NEW YORK, ABSIGNOI, BY IESNB ASSIGNMENTS, TO THE INDUSTRIAL DRYER CORPORAIION, OI STAMFORD, CONNECTICUT, A COB- PORATION OF CONNECTICUT.

DRYING APPARATUS.

Application filed March 31, 1921. Serial No. 457,250.

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GbRDoN DON HARRIS, a citizen of the United States, residin at Islip, county of sufi'olk', and State of ew York, have invented a certain new and useful Drying Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

This invention pertains to an apparatus wherein an automobile, or an other machine or structure, may be positioned for the purpose of performing useful work thereon, such as oxidizing coatings applied thereto or of drying the same.

According to this invention, I provide a chamber within which the apparatus or structure as an entirety may be positioned, and within this chamber is circulated a gaseous medium under such conditions of temperature, humidity and fresh air control as to, at least approximately, attain ideal dry ing, oxidizing-or setting conditions.

The interior construction of the chamber is such that a workman is able to move freely around the apparatus or structure, and to have unobstructed access thereto for the performance of work thereon, such as the application of a coating or coatings thereto, but during the oxidizing or setting operation the chamber is closed except for the circulation of the drying atmosphere therein, the same being directed into the required contact with the surfaces of the structure under treatment.

In a practical embodiment of the invention, the floor of the chamber is constructed' with work locating means in the form of curbings for determining the position to be occupied by an automobile, and interme-' diate said curbing's is an eduction flue by which the drying atmosphere is conducted beneaththe automobile and to an exhauster.

The drying atmosphere is replenished by the inflow of fresh atmospheric air induced to flow into the chamber by the circulation im elled by the action of the exhauster, such in owing resh air being heated to.a proper temperature by the action of coils WhlCh are supplied with a heatingmedium of .a desired character, such for exam le as electric coils affording resistance to t e flow of an electric current. Preferably, the inflowing fresh air is not only heated to a desired temperature, but it is filtered to exclude the admission of dust to the surface of the automobile.

During the operation of oxidizing the coatings on the automobile, the returning air from the elevated duct, and the inflowing. air from the fresh air ducts,

be used for washing and drying automobiles v in garages where large numbers of cars are stored; and, further, that said apparatus may also be used for the treatment of structures other than automobiles, such as pianos, or other forms of apparatus.

Other functions and advantages of the invention will appear from the following description taken in connection with the drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a vertical cross section through my apparatus illustrating an automobile positioned therein for the performance of work thereon.

Figure 2 is a side elevation partly broken away and shown in longitudinal section.

Figure 3 is a plan view partly broken away and shown in horizontal section through a portion of the apparatus.

The housing A is of any approved construction, producing a chamber B within which the structure to be treated, such as an automobile C, is adapted to be positioned so as to provide for the circulation of an oxidizing or drying atmosphere inaccordance with this invention. a

The 'position of the structure to be treated is determined by the provision on the floor b ofa plurality of curbings D D, the same being com )osed of cement or other material suitab e for the purpose. As shown the posing faces of the curbs are bevele for meeting the wheels of the automobile when the latter is run into or out of the housin suitable doors being rovided in the end or ends of the housing or this pur- 1 E is an eduction fine or duct extending horizontally within the chamber B, preferably on the floor 1) thereof, and intermediate the curbings D D. Said fine is or may be composed of metal, provided with ports (2 for the flow of the drying or oxidizing atmospherc from the chamber B. The flue extends through a wall of the housing, and itis connected with the intake of a blower or exhaustcr F, from which leads a stack or uptake G, said blower being shown as having a fan shaft f provided with a belt pulley Iii the upper part of the chamber are provided fresh air ducts H, H, beneath which are permanent batlles I I, .the latter being inclined relatively to the fresh airducts and the side walls of the housing, see Figure l. Said fresh air ducts are open to the outside air and to the upper part of chamber B, and

within said ducts are appropriate heaters, such as the coils J. Said coils are shown as resistance coils for an electric current whereby the coils afford means for heating the inflowing fresh air to a desired temperature, but obviously other forms of heaters may be substituted for the electric resistance coils. Across the intake to the fresh air ducts are filters K, composed usually of fabric through which the fresh air flows whereby the infiowing air is filtered in order to eliminate dust and foreign material from the surfaces of the automobile during the drying thereof.

L is a return flue or duct extending horizontally within the chamber, said duct being intern'icdiatc the fresh air duets H, H,

and over the )osition to be occupied by the automobile. Said duct is connected with the stack or uptake G, see Figure 2, and if desired a damper is provided in said uptake (see dotted lines at 9), whereby the atmosphere flowing out of the duct E may be returned by exhaustcr F and stack G to the return duet L, the lower surface of which duct is provided with ports m for directing the recirculated atmosphere upon the top part of the automobile.

M M are movable bafiies positioned within the chamber at the respective sides thereof, said bafiles being hung or pivoted at 0 upon the opposite side walls of the housing. Durin t applied to the automobile, the bafiles are 1e operation of oxidizing the coatings turned to occu y the horizontal positions ex tending towar the automobile, and in practice said bafiles direct the circulating atmosphere into contact with the automobile. When the workmen are enga ed in the )erformance of work upon tie automo ile, such as applying a coating thereto, or washing the car, the bailies are turned upwardly to the dotted line positions in Figure 1, thus disposing the movable baflies out of the way of the workmen; but durin the oxidizing or drying operations, the ba es occupy sub stantially the positions shown, for directin the circulating atmosphere into contact wit 1 the surfaces of the car, as shown by the arrows in Figure 1.

The operation will be apparent from the foregoin description, but may be summarized as ollows:The car C is run between the curbings D to occupy position over the eduction flue E and beneath return duct L, the doors are closed to chamber B, and exhauster E started. The suction created in chamber B by the action of the exhauster draws the atmosphere downwardly within the chamber, so as to set up a circulation along the sides and below the automobile, the atmosphere flowing into duct E through ports 0, thence to the stack G, and some of it is returned by duct L to the upper portion of chamber B. The downward circulation thus set up in the chamber induces the inflow of fresh atmospheric air by way of flues H H, the infiowing fresh air being heated and filtered, and such air mixes with the recirculated atmosphere discharged through flueL, whereby the returning moist air from duct L and the inflowing fresh air through duets H are mixed to attain a drying atmosphere conditioned as to temperature and humidity for the performance of the oxidizing or drying operation under what may be regarded as ideal conditions of service.

Having thus fully described the inven- 110 tion, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In an apparatus such as described, a chamber provided at the floor thereof with means for locating an object, recirculating 11 means for effecting the positive recirculation of an oxidizing or drying atmosphere,

including an eduction flue positioned adweaves mosphere benea-th an object located by said locating means, a return flue extending longitudinally with respect to the chamber for directin said atmosphere downwardly upon an ob ect positioned by saidlocating means, a positively operating recirculating device the intake of which is connected to" the eduction flue and the outletof which is connected with the return flue, and means separate from said flues and the recirculat ing device for feeding atmospheric air directly toisaid chamber, whereby the inflow of atmospheric air to the chamber is independent of the flow therein'of the atmosphere recirculated by said fines and the recirculating device.

3. In an apparatus such as the plane of the objectlocating means, said baffles being movable within the chamber' for enlarging the space surrounding the ob ject under treatment and being positioned at will for operative relation to said object" whereby a drying or oxidizing atmosphere may be directed to flow into contact with said object, and recirculating means for effecting the positive recirculation of said atmosphere, operable for blowing said atmosphere downwardly upon the object and object.

4, In an apparatus such as described, a

phere, including means for directing such atmosphere downwardly upon the object and means for exhausting such atmosphere from. below said object.

- 5. In an apparatus such as described, a chamber, an exhaust flue and a return flue extending longitudinally with respect to said chamber, said flues being spaced relatively to each other for the introduction between them of an object to be treated, a positively operating recirculating means connected with said flues to recirculate a drying or oxidizing atmosphere within said chamber, and means separate 'from said flues and the recirculating device for feeding fresh air directly to the chamber, the fresh atmospheric air flowing into said chamber described, a chamber provided-at the floor thereof with object locating means, baffles mounted within the chamber for movement relatively to recirculating means. for exhausting said atmosphere below said.

independentlyv of the atmosphere recirculated-by said fiues and the recirculating means.

6. In an'apparatus such as described, a chamber, an exhaust flue and a return flue extending longitudinally with respect to said-chamber and positioned substantially centrally with respect thereto, a positively operating: recirculating device the intake of which is connected with the exhaust flue and the outlet of which is connected with the return flue, said device and the specified flues operating to recirculate a drying or oxidizing atmosphere within said chamber, and a plurality of fresh air flues separate from the aforesaid flues and operable for feeding fresh atmospheric air directly to said chamber independently of the atmosphere flowing therein by the co-operation of said recirculating device with the eduction flue and'the return flue. 7. In an apparatus such as described, an eduction flue and a return flue in co-operative relation to said chamber, a circulating device connectedwith said eduction flue and the return flue for effecting in a positive manner the recirculation of a drying or oxidizing atmosphere Within said chamber, and medns *separate. from said recirculating means and flues for feeding fresh atmospheric air directly to said chamber, whereby atmospheric air is supplied to the chamber independently of the flow of the at mosphere therein under the influence of said 8. In an apparatus such as described, an

eduction flue and a return flue in co-operative relation to said chamber, a circulating device connected with said eduction flue and the return flue for effecting in a positive manner the recirculation of a drying or oxidizing atmosphere within said chamber, means separate from said recirculating means and fines for feeding fresh atmospheric air directly to said chamber, and 116 means for warming the inflowing fresh atmospheric air.

9. In an apparatus such as described, a chamber, an eduction flue and a return flue in co-operative relation to said chamber, a circulating device connected with said eduction flue and the return flue for efiecting the recirculation of a drying or oxidizing atmosphere within said chamber, means separate from said recirculating means and 120 flues for feeding fresh atmospheric air directly to Said chamber, and means for warming and filtering the fresh atmospheric air supplied to said chamber independently of the flow therein of the re- 12 circulated atmosphere.

10. In an apparatus such as described, a

chamber, a return flue and an eduction flue downwardly within the chamber, a recirculating device connected with said fines for recirculating said atmosphere, and a plurality of fresh air ducts separate from said return flue and the eduction flue, said fresh air ducts having their discharge ends opening into the chamber adjacent the return flue whereby the downflow of the atmosphere from said return flue induces the inflow to the chamber of fresh atmospheric air.

11. In an apparatus such as described, a chamber, a flue positioned for discharging a drying or oxidizing atmosphere downwardly within said chamber, a circulating device the intake ofwhich exhausts said atmosphere from the chamber and operating to deliver the atmosphere through said flue,

and a fresh air duct separate from said flue,

the outlet of said duct discharging fresh atmospheric air directly into the chamber and adjacent the first mentioned flue so that the downflow of the atmos )here within the chamber induces the in ow to said chamber of fresh atmospheric air through said duct.

12. In an apparatus such as described, a chamber, a flue positioned for discharging a drying or oxidizing atmosphere downwardly within said chamber, a circulating device the intake of which exhausts said atmosphere from the chamber and operating to deliver the atmosphere through said flue, and a plurality of fresh air ducts the outlets of which feed fresh atmospheric air directly to said chamber at points adjacent to said flue, said fresh air ducts being separate from the flue, and means within the fresh air ducts for warming and filtering the fresh atmospheric air-the inflow of which to the chamber is induced by the downflow of the recirculated atmosphere.

13. In an apparatus such as described, a chamber, a flue positioned for discharging a drying or oxidizing atmosphere downwardly within said chamber, a circulating device the intake of which exhausts said atmosphere from the chamber and operating to deliver the atmosphere through said flue, a plurality of fixed baflles inclined relatively to the flue, a lurality of fresh air ducts above the inc ined bafiles and opening into the chamber adjacent the flue for the ingress of the recirculated atmos here, and movable bafiles hung within t e chamber below said inclined baflies, said movable baflies being shiftable into out of service positions relatively to the space within the chamber to be occupied by the object under treatment.

14. In an apparatus such as described, a chamber, recirculating means including a flue for discharging a drying or oxidizing atmosphere downwardly within said chamber, a plurality of fresh air ducts the outlet ends of which open into the chamber adjacent said flue for feeding to said chamber fresh atmospheric air independently of the downflow o the recirculated atmosphere, and means co-operable with said ducts for warming the fresh air flowing therethrough into the chamber.

15. In an apparatus such as described, a chamber, recirculating means including a flue for discharging a drying or oxidizing atmosphere downwardly within said chamber, a plurality of fresh air ducts the outlet ends of which open into the chamber ad: jacent said flue for feeding to said chamber fresh atmos heric air independently of the downflow oi the recirculated atmosphere, means within said fresh air ducts for filtering the fresh atmospheric air sup lied to said chamber, and heating means or said air flowing within the ducts.

In testimony whereof I have hereto signed my name this 29th day of March, 1921.

GORDON DON HARRIS. 

